There certainly is not a shortage of insect books available so today I thought I’d just focus on one insect, the fly. Has anyone read Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth, illustrated by Stephen Gammell? The nasty little fly in the story takes the reader on a journey through the alphabet (and we are discussing the alphabet after all) as he meddels with nearly every object in the house. The artwork in this book is unique to a children’s picture book, the wild watercolor splatter on every page is almost sinister and perfectly mimics the menacing fly’s demeanor and deeds. You won’t feel bad for the fly when he gets swatted at the end. My kids like to smash the book closed before the last page and then open it back up to reveal the swatted fly (which is actually just a burst of colorful paint that covers the page). It’s a fun, even gross read that both my kids are into.

And since we are on the discussion of flies, There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly is a classic rhyme in book form that my kids adore. I realize this is hardly a book about insects but it does begin with a fly. We have checked out many versions of this story but their favorite is the one by Simms Talbek.

If you don't have this book make your own puppet version like we did HERE.

Lastly, since we’re on the topic, we recently checked out a book called Thelonius Monster’s Sky-high Fly Pie, a rhyming book by Judy Sierra with “delicious drawings”—as the cover of the book puts it—by comic book artist, Edward Koren. Thelonius the monster has a sweet tooth for flies and therefore decides to make a fly-pie to enjoy with all his monster friends. This book actually reminded me of The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly in some regards. The conclusion to this story however, does not result in death for the monsters or the flies. Expect a silly, fun book with harmonizing imagery.

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Make Monthly is...

a little place to catalog some of the making that takes place in our home each month. We also like to organize with friends every so often to create something magnificent—(with a little socializing sprinkled about). This space will also document and inform readers about these project-play-dates.